In news that was widely expected, Brentford have officially announced the capture of French forward Neal Maupay who joins the Bees from Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne.
20-year-old Versailles-born Maupay has signed a four-year deal at Griffin Park, wit hBrentford looking to improve on a 10th place finish in last season’s Championship.
🖊 Welcome to Brentford @nealmaupay18
who joins on a four-year deal from@ASSEofficiel 👇https://t.co/GczC0qszK8 pic.twitter.com/RpYbicNARv— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 14, 2017
Brentford’s Co-Director of Football, Phil Giles, said of Maupay’s capture: “There were many clubs both in England and overseas that were interested in signing Neal this summer. I am very proud of the team effort from everyone at Brentford who contributed to selling our club and our ambition to Neal. ”
Maupay started off his career at French side Nice, coming up from their youth set-up to the first-team mid-January 2013. He played a total of 53 games for Nice, scoring nine goals and providing four assists.
A move to Saint-Étienne came about in August 2015 for a reported fee of £510,000 – Maupay playing a total of 23 times for the Ligue 1 side, scoring three times and providing two assists for teammate goals.
Last season he was sent out on loan to Ligue 2 side Brest, where he played a total of 28 times. During his time at the StadeFrancis-Le Blé, Maupay scored 11 goals and provided a sole assist. 10 of these goals came in an 18-game spell at the start of the Ligue 2 season, a season that included a seven-game stretch out injured with a knee injury.
The 5ft 8in centre-forward has represented France at youth levels up to Under-21, playing 35 games in total and scoring 16 times for the national side.
Neal Maupay – video highlight reel